'Welcome to Moe’s’ greeting comes to town

Wednesday

Sep 26, 2007 at 12:01 AM

By Matt Hawk Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA | National restaurant chain Moe’s Southwest Grill, famous for greeting customers with a chorus of employees shouting “Welcome to Moe’s!" has a location in Tuscaloosa.The restaurant, which serves Southwestern- and Mexican-style dishes, opened Thursday in Meadowbrook Plaza on McFarland Boulevard.Customers familiar with the chain will notice a few differences in the Meadowbrook location. Large crimson A’s and burly gray elephants share the walls with the chain’s standard Southwestern décor.“It’s a Bama Moe’s," said general manager Victtor Hatcher.The restaurant’s size is also atypical. With 2,500 square feet of space, a staff of 26 and a 121-person seating capacity, the Tuscaloosa Moe’s is nearly twice the size of other restaurants in the chain, Hatcher said.“We expect this Moe’s here to be one of the busiest in the nation," he said. “We did as much sales in [the first] four days as a normal Moe’s would do all week long."Prices at Moe’s range from $5 to $10 for most meals. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.Stephen Patrias said he’s never been disappointed with Tuscaloosa’s restaurant selection, but he’s happy to have an additional choice.“It’s pretty good," Patrias said as he waited to place an order Tuesday. “It kind of reminds me of the place on the Strip, [but] I like it better."Hatcher, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, said his staff is his most important asset.And he’s more than willing to get his hands dirty helping them out.“When the going gets tough, they don’t have to look for me," Hatcher said.“I’m right there beside them and we’re rocking and rolling, he said."Founded in 2000 by Atlanta, based Raving Brands Inc., Moe’s Southwest Grill has 366 locations throughout the United States.Reach Matt Hawk at matt.hawk @tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0213.

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